Clothing Belt

ABSTRACT

Disclosed is an article of clothing that includes a front side, a back side, a first side between the front side and the back side, and a second side between the front side and the back side that is opposite from the first side. Further, the article includes a flexible webbing that traverses a semi-circumferential path on the article, wherein the semi-circumferential path extends at least: (i) from a first, visible point where the front side meets the first side; (ii) in between an external layer of the backside attached to an inner layer of the backside; and (iii) to a second, visible point where the second side meets the front side. Further still, the article includes a fixed ring located where the front side meets the first side, whereby the article provides hands-free stability to a wearer when a pulling object is attached to the flexible webbing.

RELATED APPLICATIONS

This application is a continuation, which claims priority to U.S. designpatent application Ser. Nos. 29/711,202 and 29/711,206, both of whichwere filed on Oct. 29, 2019, wherein each of these applications areincorporated by this reference in their entireties.

TECHNICAL FIELD

This invention relates to belting within and on clothing, such as vests,jackets, shirts, pants, etc., such that when worn, the belted clothingmay fit snugly and provide hands-free stability when a pulling object,such as a dog, is attached thereto, e.g., a leash attached on one of itstwo ends to a ring on the belted clothing and on the other of its twoends to the dog's collar.

BACKGROUND

Clothing items, such as dogwalker's vests, may permit a wearer to holditems in pockets, but they fail to provide hands-free stability when apulling object, such as a dog, is attached thereto, e.g., a leashattached on one of its two ends to a ring on the belted clothing and onthe other of its two ends to the dog's collar. Additionally, the stateof the art fails to provide the wearer with a tailored look; instead,dogwalker's vests in the prior art are loose-fitting and look sloppy onthe wearer. Accordingly, these improvement(s) are illustrative ofimprovement(s) that this disclosure seeks to redress in the state of theart.

SUMMARY

Disclosed is an article of clothing that includes a front side, a backside, a first side between the front side and the back side, and asecond side between the front side and the back side that is oppositefrom the first side. Further, the article includes a flexible webbingthat traverses a semi-circumferential path on the article, wherein thesemi-circumferential path extends at least: (i) from a first, visiblepoint where the front side meets the first side; (ii) in between anexternal layer of the backside attached to an inner layer of thebackside; and (iii) to a second, visible point where the second sidemeets the front side. Further still, the article includes a fixed ringlocated where the front side meets the first side, whereby the articleprovides hands-free stability to a wearer when a pulling object isattached to the flexible webbing.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

So that the manner in which the above recited features, advantages andobjects of this disclosure are attained and may be understood in detail,a more particular description, briefly summarized above, may be had byreference to the embodiments thereof which are illustrated in theappended drawings.

FIG. 1 shows a front and partial side views of the exterior an articleof clothing in accordance with this disclosure.

FIG. 2 shows a back side and partial side views of the exterior anarticle of clothing in accordance with this disclosure.

FIG. 3 shows a front and partial side views of the interior of anarticle of clothing in accordance with this disclosure.

FIG. 4 shows a back side and partial side views of the interior of anarticle of clothing in accordance with this disclosure.

DESCRIPTION OF EMBODIMENTS

Various specific embodiments, versions and examples are describedherein, including exemplary embodiments and definitions that are adoptedherein for purposes of understanding. While the following detaileddescription gives specific preferred embodiments, those skilled in theart will appreciate that these embodiments are exemplary only, and thatthe disclosure can be practiced in other ways. For purposes ofdetermining infringement, the scope of the invention will refer to theany claims, including their equivalents, and elements or limitationsthat are equivalent to those that are recited.

Specific structural and functional details disclosed herein are not tobe interpreted as limiting, but merely as a basis of the claims and as arepresentative basis for teaching persons having ordinary skill in theart to variously employ the present invention. Many variations andmodifications of embodiments disclosed herein are possible and arewithin the scope of the present disclosure.

Where numerical ranges or limitations are expressly stated, such expressranges or limitations should be understood to include iterative rangesor limitations of like magnitude falling within the expressly statedranges or limitations.

The use of the word “a” or “an” when used in conjunction with the term“comprising” in the claims and/or the specification may mean “one,” butit is also consistent with the meaning of “one or more,” “at least one,”and “one or more than one.”

The use of the term “optionally” with respect to any element of a claimis intended to mean that the subject element is required, oralternatively, is not required. Both alternatives are intended to bewithin the scope of the claim. Use of broader terms such as comprises,includes, having, etc. should be understood to provide support fornarrower terms such as consisting of, consisting essentially of,comprised substantially of, and the like.

As used herein, “about” means the number itself and/or within 5% of thestated number. For instance, with about 5%, this means 5 and/or anynumber or range within the range of 4.75 to 5.25, e.g., 4.75 to 4.96,4.81 to 5.1, etc.

Throughout this specification, unless the context requires otherwise,the word “comprise” or variations such as “comprises” or “comprising”,will be understood to imply the inclusion of a stated integer or groupof integers but not the exclusion of any other integer or group ofintegers.

It is to be appreciated that reference to “one example” or “an example”of the disclosed subject matter is not made in an exclusive sense.Accordingly, one example may exemplify certain aspects of the invention,whilst other aspects are exemplified in a different example. Theseexamples are intended to assist the skilled person in performing what isdisclosed and claimed, and are not intended to limit the overall scopeof the invention in any way unless the context clearly indicatesotherwise.

Generally, disclosed are articles of clothing, such as a shirt with oneor more sleeves, vest, jacket or other item worn on a torso, or inalternative embodiments, be at least a portion of a pair of pants,skirt, or other item worn below the midsection. With reference to theFigures, disclosed is an example embodiment of such an article 10 ofclothing that comprises, consists essentially of, or consists of a frontside 12, a back side 14, a first side 16 between the front side 12 andthe back side 14, and a second side 18 between the front side 12 and theback side 14 that is opposite from the first side 16. Further, thearticle 10 of clothing may comprise, consist essentially of, or consistof a flexible webbing 20 that traverses a semi-circumferential path onthe article 10, wherein the semi-circumferential path extends at least:(i) from a first, visible point 22 at least proximate to where the frontside 12 meets the first side 16; (ii) to in between an external layer 28of the back side 14 attached to an inner layer 26 of the back side 14;and (iii) to a second, visible point 24 at least proximate to where thesecond side 18 meets the front side 12.

The article 10 of clothing may further include at least one fixed ring28, which is located at least proximate, e.g., at, about at, within 0.5inches, 1 inches or 2 inches, to where the front side 12 meets the firstside 16, i.e., at least proximate to the first, visible point 22. Inaddition or alternatively, the article 10 may include at least one fixedring 30, which is located at least proximate to where the front side 12meets the second side 18, i.e., at least proximate to the second,visible point 24.

For a wearer of such an article 10 of clothing, the article 10 provideshands-free stability when a pulling object such as a dog, is attachedthereto, e.g., a leash attached on one of its two ends to one or morefixed rings 28, 30 and/or one or more movable rings 32, 36 on theflexible webbing 20 and on the other of its two ends to the dog'scollar. Additionally, the article 10 may fit the wearer snugly so as toprovide the wearer with a tailored appearance.

In still additional and alternative example embodiments, the article 10of clothing, as the previous paragraph notes, may include at least onemovable ring 32 on the flexible webbing 20 between the first, visiblepoint 22 and a first, side point 34, which is located at least proximateto where the first side 12 meets the back side 14. Additionally andalternatively, the article 10 may include at least one movable ring 36on the flexible webbing 20 between the second, visible point 24 to asecond, side point 38, which is located at least proximate to where thesecond side 18 meets the back side 14.

The article 10 may further include a first, back opening 40, which islocated at least proximate to where the first side 16 meets the backside 14, i.e., at least proximate to the first, side point 34. Further,the article 10 may also include a second, back opening 42, which islocated at least proximate to where the second side 18 meets the backside 14, i.e., at least proximate to the second side point 38.

In some embodiments, a portion of the article's 10 flexible webbing 20may extend through a first, front opening 44 to be underneath the frontside 12 and is affixed therein and/or thereto 12, and, thereby, fixesthe fixed ring 28 into location. In yet additional embodiments, thearticle 10 may include at least one fixed ring 36, which may be located:(i) at least proximate to where the front side 12 meets the second side18, wherein a first portion of the flexible webbing 20 extends through asecond, front opening 46 to be underneath the second side 18 and isaffixed therein and/or thereto 18; (ii) where the back side 14 meets thefirst side 16, wherein a second portion of the flexible webbing 20extends through a first, back opening 40 located where the first side 16meets the back side 14 and is affixed therein and/or thereto 14; (iii)where the back side 14 meets the second side 18, wherein a third portionof the flexible webbing 20 extends through a second, back opening 42located where the second side 18 meets the back side 14 and is affixedtherein and/or thereto 14; and (iv) combinations thereof.

Notably, the flexible webbing 20, itself, in the article 10 may be asingle piece 20 of flexible webbing 20 or multiple pieces 50, 52, 54 offlexible webbing 20 joined together by sewing or any other known meansof affixing. For instance, the flexible webbing 20 may include a firstpiece 50 of the flexible webbing 20 located between the external layer28 of the back side 14 and the inner layer 26 of the back side 14,wherein a first end 51 of the first piece 50 is joined to the innerlayer 26 where the back side 14 meets the first side 16, and a secondend 53 of the first piece 50 is joined to the inner layer 26 where theback side 14 meets the second side 18. Further, the article 10 mayinclude a second piece 52 of the flexible webbing 20 located between thefirst, visible point 22 where the front side 12 meets the first side 16and at least proximate to where the back side 14 meets the first side16, wherein a first end 55 of the second piece 52 is joined to a portionof the flexible webbing 20 that optionally extends through a first,front opening 44 to be underneath the front side 12, and a second end 57of the second piece 52 is joined where the first side 16 meets the backside 14 or is joined to the first end 51 of the first piece 50.

Further still, the flexible webbing 20 may include a third piece 54 ofthe flexible webbing 20 located between the second, visible point 24where the front side 12 meets the second side 18 and at least proximateto where the back side 14 meets the second side 18, wherein a first end59 of the third piece 54 is joined to a portion of the flexible webbing20 that optionally extends through a second, front opening 46 to beunderneath the front side 12, and a second end 61 of the third piece 54is joined where the second side 18 meets the back side 14 or is joinedto the second end 53 of the first piece 50.

In additional and alternate embodiments, the first piece 50 at first end51, and, optionally, the second end 57 of the second piece 52, may bejoined to the back side 14 by two box stitches 63, 65 or other methodfor joining known in the art, wherein one 63 of which is located wherethe back side 14 meets the first side 16, and the other one 65 of whichis where the back side 14 meets the second side 18. Similarly, inadditional and alternate embodiments, the second piece 52 and thirdpiece 54 at their first ends 55, 59 may each 55, 59 be joined to thefront side by two box stitches 67, 69 or other method for joining knownin the art, wherein one 67 of which is located where the front side 12meets the first side 16, and the other one 69 of which is where thefront side 12 meets the second side 18.

As for where sides, ends, portions or otherwise meet, join, or affix, asdisclosed herein, such meetings, joining, and affixings may beaccomplished by known methods in the art. For instance, such meetings,joining, and affixings may be accomplished by sewing, gluing,complementary components for snapping, fastening, and so forth.Furthermore, any or all of such meetings, joining, and affixings maypermit removable meetings, joining, and affixings, such the opening orclosing of an opening through use of Velcro® fastening systems orirremovable meetings, joining, and affixings, such as through the use ofsewing, which is viewed as being irremovable because opening effectivelyrequires removal of the stitching.

With regard to the article 10, itself, may include one or more pockets70 of variable size and shape located on its 10 inside, outside or acombination thereof. The article 10 of clothing may include a zipper 74that at least partially opens and closes. In an example embodiment wherethe zipper 74 is on the front side 12 and fully opens, then the zipper74 may bifurcate the front side 12. In some embodiments, the article 10may include a collar, one or more loops 72, hooks, logos, reflectivematerials, and so forth of variable size, shape, and arrangement inand/or on the article 10.

As for materials that may be used for the article 10, the followingbrief discussion ensues, but it is understood that other materials thanthese may be used in various embodiments. Functional seams, such asreinforced seams, may additionally take on a decorative appearance,e.g., raglan seams, Merrow ActiveSeam® seams, etc. Hemlines of thearticle 10 may be chosen to be of a type and/or place to provideaesthetic appeal, e.g., a hemline that accentuates or de-emphasizes thehips of the wearer. The article 10 may be made from fabric(s) having awarp and weft or other construction that provides suitable properties,e.g., robustness, lifespan, tear-resistance, waterproof, webbing,optionally removable inner lining(s), and so forth. The rings 28, 30,32, 36 and other non-depicted rings, if present, of the article 10 maybe made of metal or non-metal, plastic, or combinations thereof and maybe circular, D-shaped, or any other shape for optional mating, in anyfashion, with a carabiner. Furthermore, each of the rings 28, 30, 32, 36and other non-depicted rings, if present, of the article 10 may bewelded so that each ring is an unopenable solid ring or may be openableand closeable, e.g., screwably opens and closes, clips into place toclose and unclips to open, slides into place to close in the sense ofbeing on the article 10 and slides off to open in the sense of beingremoved from the article 10, etc. The article's 10 pockets 70, loops 72,zipper 74, rings 28, 30, 32, 36, seams and any other parts of thearticle 10 may have weights and tolerances that provide the wearer withcountless utilities, e.g., attaching or storing carabiners, poop bags,identification and credit cards, phones, wallets, treats, food,beverages, keys, sprays (e.g., pepper, mosquito, etc.), sanitizer, smallflashlight, umbrella, and so forth.

Although written in claim format, the following constitute furtherexample embodiments of the disclosed subject matter:

-   1. An article of clothing comprising:    -   a front side, a back side, a first side between the front side        and the back side, and a second side between the front side and        the back side that is opposite from the first side;    -   a flexible webbing that traverses a semi-circumferential path on        the article, wherein the semi-circumferential path extends at        least: (i) from a first, visible point at least proximate to        where the front side meets the first side; (ii) to in between an        external layer of the back side attached to an inner layer of        the back side; and (iii) to a second, visible point at least        proximate to where the second side meets the front side; and    -   at least one fixed ring located at least proximate to where the        front side meets the first side,    -   whereby the article provides hands-free stability to a wearer        when a pulling object is attached to the flexible webbing.-   2. The article of claim 1, further comprising at least one movable    ring on the flexible webbing between the first, visible point and a    first side point, which is located at least proximate to the first    side meets the back side. article of claim 1, further comprising at    least one movable ring on the flexible webbing between the second,    visible point and a second side point, which is located at least    proximate to where the second side meets the back side.-   3. The article of claim 1, further comprising: (i) a first, back    opening, which is located at least proximate to where the first side    meets the back side; and (ii) a second, back opening, which is    located at least proximate to where the second side meets the back    side.-   4. The article of claim 1, wherein a portion of the flexible webbing    extends through a first, front opening to be underneath the front    side and is joined thereto, and, thereby, fixes the fixed ring into    location.-   5. The article of claim 5, further comprising at least one more    fixed ring located: (i) where the front side meets the second side,    wherein a first portion of the flexible webbing extends through a    second, front opening to be underneath the second side and is joined    thereto; (ii) where the back side meets the first side, wherein a    second portion of the flexible webbing extends through a first, back    opening located where the first side meets the back side and is    joined thereto; (iii) where the back side meets the second side,    wherein a third portion of the flexible webbing extends through a    second, back opening located where the second side meets the back    side and is joined thereto; and (iv) combinations thereof.-   6. The article of claim 1, wherein the flexible webbing comprises    more than one piece of the flexible webbing joined together.-   7. The article of claim 1, wherein the flexible webbing comprises a    first piece of the flexible webbing located between the external    layer of the back side and the inner layer of the back side, wherein    a first end of the first piece is joined to the inner layer where    the back side meets the first side, and a second end of the first    piece is joined to the inner layer where the back side meets the    second side.-   8. The article of claim 8, wherein the flexible webbing comprises a    second piece of the flexible webbing located between the first,    visible point where the front side meets the first side and at least    proximate to where the back side meets the first side, wherein a    first end of the second piece is joined to a portion of the flexible    webbing that optionally extends through a first, front opening to be    underneath the front side, and a second end of the second piece is    joined where the first side meets the back side or joined to the    first end of the first piece.-   9. The article of claim 9, wherein the flexible webbing comprises a    third piece of the flexible webbing located between the second,    visible point where the front side meets the second side and at    least proximate to where the back side meets the second side,    wherein a first end of the third piece is joined to a portion of the    flexible webbing that optionally extends through a second, front    opening to be underneath the front side, and a second end of the    third piece is joined where the second side meets the back side or    joined to the second end of the first piece.-   10. The article of claim 8, wherein the first piece is joined to    back side by two box stitches, wherein one of which is located where    the back side meets the first side, and the other one of which is    where the back side meets the second side.-   11. The article of claim 1, wherein the article further comprises    one or more pockets located inside, outside or a combination    thereof.-   12. The article of claim 1, further comprising a zipper that at    least partially opens and closes.-   13. The article of claim 12, wherein the zipper opens to bifurcate    the front side.-   14. The article of claim 1, further comprising one or more sleeves    on the article.-   15. The article of claim 1, further comprising loops on the article.-   16. The article of claim 1, wherein the article is a vest.-   17. The article of claim 1, wherein the article is a portion of a    pair of pants.-   18. The article of claim 1, wherein the article is for clothing worn    on a torso.

While the foregoing is directed to example embodiments of the disclosedinvention, other and further embodiments may be devised withoutdeparting from the basic scope thereof, wherein the scope of thedisclosed compositions are determined by one or more claims.

What is claimed is:
 1. An article of clothing comprising: a front side,a back side, a first side between the front side and the back side, anda second side between the front side and the back side that is oppositefrom the first side; a flexible webbing that traverses asemi-circumferential path on the article, wherein thesemi-circumferential path extends at least: (i) from a first, visiblepoint at least proximate to where the front side meets the first side;(ii) to in between an external layer of the back side attached to aninner layer of the back side; and (iii) to a second, visible point atleast proximate to where the second side meets the front side; and atleast one fixed ring located at least proximate to where the front sidemeets the first side, whereby the article provides hands-free stabilityto a wearer when a pulling object is attached to the flexible webbing.2. The article of claim 1, further comprising at least one movable ringon the flexible webbing between the first, visible point and a firstside point, which is located at least proximate to the first side meetsthe back side. article of claim 1, further comprising at least onemovable ring on the flexible webbing between the second, visible pointand a second side point, which is located at least proximate to wherethe second side meets the back side.
 3. The article of claim 1, furthercomprising: (i) a first, back opening, which is located at leastproximate to where the first side meets the back side; and (ii) asecond, back opening, which is located at least proximate to where thesecond side meets the back side.
 4. The article of claim 1, wherein aportion of the flexible webbing extends through a first, front openingto be underneath the front side and is joined thereto, and, thereby,fixes the fixed ring into location.
 5. The article of claim 5, furthercomprising at least one more fixed ring located: (i) where the frontside meets the second side, wherein a first portion of the flexiblewebbing extends through a second, front opening to be underneath thesecond side and is joined thereto; (ii) where the back side meets thefirst side, wherein a second portion of the flexible webbing extendsthrough a first, back opening located where the first side meets theback side and is joined thereto; (iii) where the back side meets thesecond side, wherein a third portion of the flexible webbing extendsthrough a second, back opening located where the second side meets theback side and is joined thereto; and (iv) combinations thereof.
 6. Thearticle of claim 1, wherein the flexible webbing comprises more than onepiece of the flexible webbing joined together.
 7. The article of claim1, wherein the flexible webbing comprises a first piece of the flexiblewebbing located between the external layer of the back side and theinner layer of the back side, wherein a first end of the first piece isjoined to the inner layer where the back side meets the first side, anda second end of the first piece is joined to the inner layer where theback side meets the second side.
 8. The article of claim 8, wherein theflexible webbing comprises a second piece of the flexible webbinglocated between the first, visible point where the front side meets thefirst side and at least proximate to where the back side meets the firstside, wherein a first end of the second piece is joined to a portion ofthe flexible webbing that optionally extends through a first, frontopening to be underneath the front side, and a second end of the secondpiece is joined where the first side meets the back side or joined tothe first end of the first piece.
 9. The article of claim 9, wherein theflexible webbing comprises a third piece of the flexible webbing locatedbetween the second, visible point where the front side meets the secondside and at least proximate to where the back side meets the secondside, wherein a first end of the third piece is joined to a portion ofthe flexible webbing that optionally extends through a second, frontopening to be underneath the front side, and a second end of the thirdpiece is joined where the second side meets the back side or joined tothe second end of the first piece.
 10. The article of claim 8, whereinthe first piece is joined to back side by two box stitches, wherein oneof which is located where the back side meets the first side, and theother one of which is where the back side meets the second side.
 11. Thearticle of claim 1, wherein the article further comprises one or morepockets located inside, outside or a combination thereof.
 12. Thearticle of claim 1, further comprising a zipper that at least partiallyopens and closes.
 13. The article of claim 12, wherein the zipper opensto bifurcate the front side.
 14. The article of claim 1, furthercomprising one or more sleeves on the article.
 15. The article of claim1, further comprising loops on the article.
 16. The article of claim 1,wherein the article is a vest.
 17. The article of claim 1, wherein thearticle is a portion of a pair of pants.
 18. The article of claim 1,wherein the article is for clothing worn on a torso.